Tatooine · Real Filming Locations
Every Tatooine set, and how to reach them.
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The Experience
Tunisia played Tatooine in four films, and the crews did not take everything home.
The sets are 250km apart. No day tour reaches them all — here is how to plan around that.
Matmata, Ksar Hadada and the Tataouine ksour sit in the south-east and are a Djerba day trip. Mos Espa and the Chott el Jerid dome are in the west near Nefta and belong to a Tozeur day or the second half of a longer loop.
Fifty-three listings in our catalogue mention Star Wars. Far fewer actually stop at a set. Look for Sidi Driss, Ksar Hadada, Ong Jmal or Onk Jemal by name in the itinerary.
Sidi Driss and several of the ksour charge admission. A tour that covers it is doing more for you than a slightly cheaper one that does not, and the listings vary on this line more than on the fare.
There is no sealed road to Ong Jmal. Every itinerary that reaches the Mos Espa set does the last stretch across sand, which is why it is never a coach stop.
Photo Gallery
Ksour, cave houses and the sand the sets were built on.
The sets are 250km apart, and that is the decision.
| Feature | DAY TRIP FROM DJERBA East: Matmata & the Ksour | West: Mos Espa & Ong Jmal | A Tour That Only Says 'Star Wars' |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sets Included | Sidi Driss, Ksar Hadada, the ksour | Mos Espa, and the Chott el Jerid dome | Often none — check the stop list |
| Base | Djerba or Zarzis | Tozeur, or day two of a longer loop | Anywhere |
| Reachable in a Day | ✓ From the island | ✓ From Tozeur only | — |
| Vehicle | 4x4 or coach | 4x4 for the last stretch | Varies |
| Also Gets You | The Ksar Ghilane oasis | Chebika, Midès, Tamerza | Varies |
| Day Length | 10–12 hours | A full day | Varies |
| Starting Price | From $69/per person | From $80 per person | — |
| Free Cancellation | ✓ Up to 24 hours before | ✓ Up to 24 hours before | ✓ Usually |
| Check Availability | See Mos Espa Tours | View Options |
More Options
Different departure towns, lengths, and prices — all with free cancellation and instant confirmation.
MOST REVIEWEDA full day from Djerba to the Ksar Ghilane oasis by 4x4, taking in the Ksar Hadada film location and the hilltop village of Guermassa on the way.
2-DAY CLASSICThe most-reviewed two-day run south: El Jem, Matmata and the Sidi Driss cave hotel on day one, a desert camp at Sabria, then Chott el Jerid, Chebika and Kairouan on the way home.
LOWEST PRICEThe cheapest way to sleep in the Tunisian Sahara from Djerba — two days by 4x4 through Tataouine, Chenini and Ksar Ghilane with a night at a desert camp.
SUNSET & SUNRISEA late start, a night in a desert tent and both a Saharan sunset and sunrise — with Ksar Hadada, the Chahbania salt lake and the Ksar Ghilane hot spring either side of it.
SMALL-GROUP 4X4A small-group 4x4 day trip from Djerba and Zarzis to Ksar Ghilane, with the Berber mountain village of Toujane and the Sidi Idriss cave hotel at Matmata.
BERBER VILLAGESA day across the Dahar from Djerba: the Chahbania salt lake at first light, the Tataouine market, and the hilltop Berber villages of Chenini and Douiret.
FROM SOUSSETUI's two-day southern loop from Sousse and Monastir: El Jem, Matmata, a night in Douz, then Chott el Jerid and the Mos Espa film set at Onk Jemal by 4x4.
FROM HAMMAMETTUI's two-day Sahara tour out of Hammamet, with accommodation, the El Jem amphitheatre, Matmata's cave houses and a crossing of Chott el Jerid.
Where Tatooine Actually Is
Four films, four sets worth travelling for, and 250km between the two clusters.
Tunisia stood in for Tatooine across four films — A New Hope in 1976 and the whole prequel trilogy between 1997 and 2004 — and the crews did not take everything home. Four locations are worth travelling for, and the single most useful thing to know before booking is that two of them are 250km from the other two.
Mos Espa, at Ong Jmal near Nefta, is the one that looks like the film. The whole town set was built in the open desert for The Phantom Menace, shot in Tunisia in July and August 1997, and was never dismantled. The buildings are weathered and the sand is taking some of them back, but they are recognisably the place Anakin grew up.
Hotel Sidi Driss, in Matmata, is the Lars homestead interior. The sunken courtyard where Owen Lars loses his temper with Luke is now the hotel’s dining room; the set dressing was struck after 1977 and completely rebuilt in 2000 for Attack of the Clones, and it is still there.
Ksar Hadada, north of Tataouine, played the Mos Espa slave quarters — the vaulted cells and courtyard where Qui-Gon Jinn talks to Shmi Skywalker.
The Lars homestead dome, the white igloo exterior, stands on the edge of Chott el Jerid near Nefta, about 300km west of the interior that supposedly sits beneath it.
Matmata, Ksar Hadada and the Tataouine ksour are in the south-east. They are comfortably a day trip from Djerba or Zarzis, and they turn up on almost every itinerary that leaves the island.
Mos Espa and the Chott el Jerid dome are in the west, around Nefta and Tozeur. They need a Tozeur base, or the second day of a two- or three-day loop from the northern coast.
No single day tour reaches both clusters. Anyone who tells you otherwise is counting Matmata as Mos Espa, which is a mistake the listings make often enough to be worth guarding against.
Fifty-three tours in our catalogue mention Star Wars. Far fewer stop at one of the four.
From Djerba, the most-reviewed desert tour in the country includes Ksar Hadada on its way to Ksar Ghilane — $69, 4.8 from 1,671 guests. The small-group Ksar Ghilane and Matmata 4x4 takes in Sidi Driss instead. The twelve-hour Sahara Dream Tour covers Matmata and the Tataouine ksour in one long day.
For Mos Espa, the options are narrow and worth knowing precisely: the private Tozeur day tour at $100, and the two-day Sousse and Monastir tour, whose second day swaps the coach for a 4x4 and runs out to Onk Jemal. The Mos Espa page lists the rest.
Mostly yes, because the sets are not the only reason to be there. Matmata’s cave houses are a living settlement, not a film prop. The ksour around Tataouine are extraordinary architecture whoever built them and whatever was shot in them. And Mos Espa sits in genuine open desert that would be worth the drive with nothing on it at all.
The filming-locations guide has the full list, including the canyon at Sidi Bouhlel that scouts still call Star Wars Canyon.
Guest Reviews
Ratings and review counts are the tour operators' live figures on GetYourGuide and may shift slightly day to day.
"It was absolutely unforgettable!!!! With my whole 10 days in Djerba that I stayed with my 2 kids and my wife. this was by far the best time I had and experience in Tunisia, our guide and driver were amazing. Our driver Fatty h was unbelievably fantastic and so kind. I miss him already, the whole experience was just out of this world, would highly recommend to anyone. 10 stars all the way, thankyou so much for such a fantastic beautiful trip and experience, Josh from the uk."
"Excellent day trip, very good live guide. Photo stops at various locations with clear and interesting explanations. In addition, there was the possibility of making stops along the way, regardless of our needs. Friendly staff no matter where. Visit to beautiful places!!"
"Beautiful trip in the heart of Tunisia. Well done, driver Fati! Highly recommended!"
"Travel in 4x4 jeep with our Driver was amazing. We get to know a lot about Tunisia and Sahara. Nice places to see I great people to meet. Only our guide wasn't good, he didn't said much and wasn't interested in the trip."
"Everything was perfect. Hmida was an incredibly kind host. He explained everything to us, everything we could come across along the way (Tunisian life, monuments, buildings, etc.), and the things to do were great (quad biking is a real must-do). I wish everyone could have a live guide like Hmida! Thank you for everything. This day will undoubtedly remain etched in our memories."
"A timeless day. Thanks to Monam, our live guide, for his humor, his driving worthy of a rally driver, and especially his explanations. We were able to enjoy a ride on the long mountain roads to the desert, quad biking, and a swim in the oasis. Finally, we went to one of the Star Wars film locations. An experience I recommend if you want to enjoy a different side of Tunisia. A very nice souvenir."
"An incredible experience that you absolutely must do at least once in your life! Everything was perfect: the desert, the meal, the landscapes, the various stops and the discovery of the ancient Berber villages. But what really made this day exceptional was our driver and live guide Fethi (Fati). A huge thank you to him 🫶🏻 Despite nearly 500 km (310 miles) on the road, he managed to make the journey pleasant and much less long. He made us laugh all day, taught us a lot about Tunisia, its culture, and its history, and showed us the south of the country with passion. You can feel that he really loves his country and that he enjoys showing it off. A wonderful encounter that will stay with us! You just have to be prepared to travel about 500 km in a 4x4, sometimes on roads that are quite damaged. It's a long day, but it's well worth it. Thanks again, Fethi!"
"A very enjoyable day, great for getting to know the desert landscape and the culture of the Berber people. We loved the 4x4 trip and the oasis. We were very well received. We had a fascinating guide, Saber, who was cheerful, polite and helpful, and who helped make this day unforgettable."
Read all 1671 verified reviews
See All ReviewsKsar Hadada — the Mos Espa slave quarters in The Phantom Menace — the hill village of Guermassa, and three hours at the Ksar Ghilane oasis. Rated 4.8 by 1,671 travellers, from $69. Starting from $69 per person.
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Which sets survive, where they are, and which tours actually stop there.
Four are worth travelling for: the Mos Espa town set at Ong Jmal near Nefta, built for The Phantom Menace in 1997 and never dismantled; Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata, the Lars homestead interior; Ksar Hadada north of Tataouine, the Mos Espa slave quarters; and the white Lars homestead dome on the edge of Chott el Jerid.
Not in a day. Matmata, Ksar Hadada and the Tataouine ksour are in the south-east; Mos Espa and the Chott el Jerid dome are about 250km west near Nefta. A two- or three-day loop can cover both clusters; a day trip cannot.
Yes. Nearly thirty years of wind have weathered it and the dunes press against the western edge, but the domed houses and market frontages are still there in open desert. There is no sealed road, so every visit is by 4x4.
Hotel Sidi Driss is a working hotel, so yes. The sunken courtyard used as the homestead interior is now its restaurant, and the set dressing rebuilt in 2000 for Attack of the Clones is still on the walls.
Mostly yes. Matmata is a living troglodyte village, the ksour are extraordinary architecture regardless of what was filmed in them, and Ong Jmal sits in desert that would justify the drive with nothing on it.
Still have questions? Email us at info@tunisiasaharatours.com
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